Early Years Area SENCO Team
Ready to Learn, Ready for School, Ready for Life.
The Early Years Area Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO) Team supports private, voluntary and independent (PVI) early years settings. It also supports childminders. They help children aged 0 to 5 years who have SEND.
The team gives advice and support to settings. It also gives quality assurance for ‘Ordinarily Available Inclusive Provision’. The team’s goal is to include all children with SEND by giving advice and support to settings. Each team member works in a local area. This helps them build strong relationships with settings and professionals who support your child.
What is SEND?
Special Educational Needs and Disability refers to a difficulty or disability that makes it hard for your child to learn. The SEND system helps to provide the support they need to do well. SEND is split into four areas of need. Your child’s needs may fall into one or more of these four areas.
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Children may:
Find it hard to communicate what they need.
Understand what others are saying.
Find it hard to follow instructions.
Find it hard to join in conversations.
Use a small range of words.
Have difficulty forming sentences.
Show signs of speech delay.
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Children may:
Learn at a slower pace than their peers.
Have difficulty with memory, attention, or problem-solving.
Find it hard to develop literacy or numeracy skills.
Need more repetition and practical experience to understand the concepts.
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Children may:
Show signs of anxiety and low self-esteem,.
Have emotional outbursts.
Find it hard to manage feelings or cope with changes.
Find it hard to make friends or to play together.
Display withdrawn or challenging behaviours.
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Children may:
Have physical disabilities affecting mobility or coordination.
Be over- or under-sensitive to touch, taste, light, or noise.
Have a medical condition that needs special care or equipment.
Have sight or hearing loss
Difficulty with fine or gross motor skills.
What You Can Do
It is common for parents and carers to wonder if their baby or toddler is different to other children. Talk to your child’s Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO). Share your concerns early. The SENCO can offer advice and support. They can connect you with professionals.
They may ask the The Early Years Area SENCO Team for more advice. The team reviews referrals from the SENCO. The SENCOs follow Wirral’s Graduated Approach. They can make a referral after two cycles of assessment and review. The team does not accept referrals directly from parents.
Family Hubs
Family Hubs support families with children aged 0 to 19—or up to 25 if the child has SEND. They help families build connections and improve relationships. They also offer support and information on:
Lifelong learning
Employment
Parenting
Health and wellbeing
A lot of Early Years support is based in Family Hubs. You can find details of your local Family Hub on Family Toolbox here.
Funding Support
There are funding options to help support your child in an early years setting. The SENCO at your setting will discuss them with you if they think it is appropriate to apply for additional funding.
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Early years settings and schools can apply for this fund. It helps children with SEND access early education.
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If your child receives Disability Living Allowance, their setting can claim a one-time yearly payment. This helps support your child’s needs.
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The Early Years SEND Team does not manage the Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) process. They also cannot provide direct support with it. However, their advice may be used as evidence if requested by the Special Educational Needs and Disability Statutory Assessment and Review Team (SENDSTART). You can find more information about that team here SENDTART. This team oversees the EHCP process.
Contact Us
Early Years Area SENCO Team
Wirral Borough Council
PO Box 290, Brighton Street, Wallasey, Wirral CH27 9FQ
Tel: 0151 666 3987
Email: eysend@wirral.gov.uk